Adjustable flicker rate vision training and testing

Abstract

A vision training system comprises a display device configured to display dynamic visual content having a flicker rate, a flicker generator configured to adjust the flicker rate according to a duty cycle, a visual signal source configured to provide a visual signal in the form of dynamic content to the flicker generator, or, alternatively, to the display device, and a receiver configured to receive indications that the flicker rate should be adjusted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vision training system, comprising:
 a visual signal source configured to transmit dynamic content; 
 a flicker generator configured to receive the dynamic content from the visual signal source and adjust the flicker rate of the dynamic content as perceived by a user according to a duty cycle of a cycle, wherein the cycle is comprised of a presentation state of a first duration and a non-presentation state of a second duration; 
 a display device configured to receive the dynamic content from at least one of the visual signal source or the flicker generator, and further wherein the display device is configured to display dynamic content with a flicker rate between 3 Hz and 30 Hz in a display area; and 
 a receiver configured to receive a flicker-rate-adjustment indication, wherein the flicker-rate-adjustment indication is useable by the flicker generator to adjust the flicker rate of the dynamic content as displayed by the display device. 
 
     
     
       2. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual signal source is configured to transmit a visual signal in the form of dynamic content or a visual signal in the form of dynamic content with gaps in time or space. 
     
     
       3. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the cycle is comprised of a presentation state of a variable duration and a non-presentation state of a fixed duration to produce a flicker rate of 5 Hz. 
     
     
       4. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the cycle is comprised of a presentation state of a fixed duration and a non-presentation state of a variable duration to produce a flicker rate of 5 Hz. 
     
     
       5. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the cycle is comprised of a presentation state of a fixed duration and a non-presentation state of a fixed duration to produce a flicker rate of a variable frequency between 3 Hz and 30 Hz. 
     
     
       6. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein an obscuration pattern is applied to a portion of the display area at a second flicker rate. 
     
     
       7. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device has a first display area configured to display a first flicker rate and a second display area configured to display a second flicker rate. 
     
     
       8. The vision training system of  claim 7 , wherein the flicker generator is configured to adjust the first flicker rate independently of the second flicker rate, and further wherein the receiver is configured to receive a first flicker-rate-adjustment indication for the first display area and a second flicker-rate adjustment indication for the second display area. 
     
     
       9. The vision training system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a plurality of display devices. 
     
     
       10. A vision training system, comprising:
 a first display area configured to display dynamic content, the first display area being electrically switchable from a first visual output to a second visual output, wherein the cycling between the first visual output and the second visual output produces a first flicker rate; 
 a second display area also configured to display dynamic content, the second display area being electrically switchable from a third visual output to a fourth visual output, wherein cycling between the third visual output and the fourth visual output produces a second flicker rate; 
 a display driver associated with the first display area and the second display area that controls the first flicker rate and the second flicker rate, wherein the display driver controls the first flicker rate and the second flicker rate between 3 Hz and 40 Hz; and 
 a retaining device configured to retain the first display area and the second display area at a position relative to a user. 
 
     
     
       11. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein the display driver controls switching the first flicker rate independently of the second flicker rate. 
     
     
       12. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining device is positioned so that the first display area and the second display area are within 12 inches from the eyes of the user. 
     
     
       13. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein the display driver is either directly coupled to the retaining device or remotely coupled to the retaining device. 
     
     
       14. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein the first visual output and the third visual output are substantially a presentation state, and the second visual output and the fourth visual output are substantially a non-presentation state. 
     
     
       15. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein the first display area and the second display area are comprised of a shatter-resistant substrate and electrically switchable optical materials. 
     
     
       16. The vision training system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrically switchable optical materials comprise polymer dispersed liquid crystals, nematic liquid crystals, or cholesteric liquid crystals. 
     
     
       17. The vision training system of  claim 10 , wherein a receiver is configured to receive a flicker-rate-adjustment indication for the first display area and a flicker-rate-adjustment indication for the second display area. 
     
     
       18. The vision training system of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver is either directly coupled to the display device or remotely coupled to the display device. 
     
     
       19. A vision training system, comprising:
 a display device able to display, to a user, dynamic visual content from a visual signal source, wherein the dynamic visual content is perceived by the user as having a flicker rate; 
 a display driver configured to adjust the flicker rate of the dynamic visual content based on a received flicker-rate-adjustment indication, wherein the flicker-rate-adjustment indication is useable by the display driver to adjust the flicker rate of the dynamic content; 
 the flicker rate is defined by a cycle that cycles through a presentation state and a non-presentation state, wherein the flicker rate is adjusted based on changing at least one of:
 a duration of the presentation state, 
 a duration of the non-presentation state, or 
 a duration of the cycle; and 
 
 a receiver for receiving the flicker-rate-adjustment indication, wherein the flicker rate is adjustable by the display driver based on the flicker-rate-adjustment such that the cycle is between 3 Hz and 40 Hz. 
 
     
     
       20. The vision training system of  claim 19 , wherein the display device comprises a plurality of display devices, and further wherein at least a first display device of the plurality of display devices displays a flicker rate that is different from at least a second display device of the plurality of display devices.